Public consultation on long-awaited draft

Public consultation on long-awaited draft
Robyn Murray
Tuesday, 12 July 2005

Public consultation on the long-awaited draft Wingecarribee Shire Local Environment Plan (LEP) began this week with the first of a series of displays to be held over the next two weeks.

The shire-wide LEP will guide the direction of Wingecarribee Shire, in line with the Wingecarribee Our Future (WOFE) strategic plan adopted in 2002.

The WOFE strategic plan identifies East Mittagong (Renwick), Gibbergunyah, South East Moss Vale, New Berrima and East Colo Vale (Wensleydale) as potential residential release areas to provide around 1500 new residential allotments over the next 10 years.

The plan also commits council to begin planning for a new small town, to address housing needs after 2011.

Under the WOFE strategic plan Bowral would remain the main sub-regional centre for the shire, but the Mittagong business centre would be expanded and an eco-industrial zone developed between Moss Vale and Berrima.

Discount department stores would be prohibited within the town centres of Bowral and Mittagong, but the plan allows for the development of a department/discount department store and bulky goods retailing in Moss Vale.

Existing village boundaries would be maintained. New Village Business Zones proposed for Exeter, New Berrima and Burrawang would allow "village scale" businesses such as general stores, taverns, butchers and bakeries, art and craft shops and rural supplies.

Residents of shire villages would also be able to run home-based businesses.

The plan also provides for a wider range of residential options within the shire, including mixed residential apartment/retail/commercial office developments in Bowral, Moss Vale and Mittagong, a new residential apartment zone close to business centres, and provision for dual occupancy on corner only allotments and courtyard housing.

There would be new opportunities for small lot sub-divisions in areas formerly set aside for medium density housing, and provision for the development of adaptable units for older and disabled residents. The plan recommends that council investigate specific sites for a tourist zone or corridor.